Time stamp



c. B. coRcoRAN TIME STAMP Filed June 7. 1921 i UNi'rED lSTATES i A y, 1,654,532 PATENT OFFICE.

CORNELIUS B. CORCORAN, OFPHOENIX, ARIZONA, ASSIGNOR TO UNDERWOOD TYPE- `WIRI'IEZB. COMPANY, NEW` YORK, Y., A lCORPORATION OF DELAWARE.

TIME STAMP.

Application tiled June 7,

This invention relates to time stamps, to

improved means for operating stamps of this kind, and to mechanism 'forfcountingthe operations thereof. One feature of the invention is the provision ot means whereby the operation of the time stamp is rendered easier for the operator. For this purpose, the time stamp plunger, the operation of which requires a. large amount of force to be exerted.against the action of a StlOIlt', spring, is operated by an electric motor when the circuit therethrough is closed. by the operator. A further advantage'of the motor-operated plunger lies in the'fact that the saine pressure is exerted upon the plunger every time it is actuated, thus producing sharp ink impressions ot the saine shade.

The operation of the plunger by an electric motor insures the application of a. smooth regular force to the plunger at each stroke,

and thus prevents misuse by a. large number of operators, each striking the plunger.

in his individual manner.

A further Rfeature of this invention is the mounting of a counter upon the time stamp in the path of the plunger, so that the num'- ber of times the latter is operated will be registered. This feature is useful for vari ous purposes. For example, whe-re the stamp is used for recording the timeof receipt on order memorandum slips, such as repair calls, the counting mechanism keeps track of the total number of such calls received during the day.

It may sometimes be desired toapply the stamp temporarily to a use which is distinct from that in connection with which the total is kept. In such a case, it is desirable to disable the counter for the time being. For this purpose, the counter is movably mounted, and means are provided for vmoving the counter into and out of co-operative relatonship with the time-stamp plunger.

Other features and advantages will hereinafter appear. g

In the accompanying drawings,

Figure 1 is a front elevation, partly broken away, of a time stamp with the invention applied thereto.

Figure 2 is a plan view of-the device lvshown in Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a side view' of the counter mounted on its supporting bracket, the latter being sectioned.

1921.` serial No. ineens.A

Figure 4 is a front view of the counter mounted on its supporting bracket.

Figure 5 is a view showing the structure of the connecting` belt. y A

I leferring to the drawings, there is shown a time stamp 10, comprising a body-part 11, having an opening 12 in its upper surface to expose an underlying ink ribbon beneath which are located printing types carried by mechanism operated to correspond with the time as shown by a clock 13. A work-piece, which may be a card or sheet, is positioned on the upper surface of the body-part between suitable guides 14 and 15, and the ink impression indicating the time is produced on the under surface ofthe work p iece by rapidly lowering a plate 1G, carried on the` lower end of a plunger 17.` To produce a clear impression, a sharp blow must be struck on the upper end (usually a knob, such as 18) of the plunger 17 against the action of a strong spring (not shown) which restores the plunger to initial position when the force is removed. The plunger'is guided for vertical movement in the vertical bore of a sleeve 20, formed at the end of a bracket-21, fixed to the bodypart. All of the parts enumerated above are -well known lin the common Iform of time stamp, and, therefore, need not bedescribed in further detail. {,lfhe time stamp rests upon a base 25, to which it may be held by brackets 26, and affvfelt pad 27 may be interposed between the base of the stamp and the base 25 to deaden the noise of operation. y

As noted above, a heavy blow must be struck against the act-ion of the `"strong spring to operate the plunger downwardly and cause the types to print against a card or sheet lying on the upper surface of the body-part. To minimize the amount of work necessary to" be expended by a person operating the time stamp, there is fixed to the plunger 17 a cross-bar 30 having a horizontal channel therethrough, through which channel passes a belt 35. The two branches 31 and 32 of the belt are united at a point below the base 25 which, in this instance, forms the top of a stand 36, one of the branches (here shown as branch 32) continuing downward and being fastened eccentrically to the armature 40 of a motor 41 mounted in the stand 36. The motor may be like the motor shown in the patber 6, 1908. It will be seen that, upon actuation of the motor, the belt will be wound upon the armature shaft 42, thereby drawing upon cross-bar 30, plunger 17 and plate 16 to cause the types to print against a workpiece, such as a card or sheet. To close the circuit of the motor, there is provided a handle 45, fixed to a shaft 46, held in brackets 47 beneath the base 25, said shaft having an arm 48 fixed thereto. A strip of insulating material 49 is fixed to arm 48 and has attached thereto a binding post 50 which carries a contact spring 51. 'When the handle 45 is operated rearwardly, contact spring 51 `will be brought into engagement with a contact spring 55carried by an insulating strip 56, to which is fastened a binding post 57. When contact spring 51' engages contact s ring 55, the current, which may be Supp ied through the motor which is connected to the contact springs by conduits 61 and 62, and 1s .set in motion to wind up belt 35 on shaft 42, and draw the plunger downwardly. The

operator presses handle rearwardly until the plunger has been drawn downwardly part way,"whereupon the handlet is released to break the circuit, the momentum of the motor bein suicient to complete the stroke. When the andle 45 is released by .thel operator, it is drawn forwardly by a spring to break the circuit through the motor. The plunger is raised by its return-spring to initial position,and, in so doing, unwinds the belt from shaft 42.

For counting the number of times a time v stamp is operated, -there is mounted upon a plunger 17 has a flange horizontal arm 70 of bracket 21, a counter 71 which may be of an ordinary type, such as the well-known Veeder cyclometer. The

72 which, in its downward movement, enga esv a lroller 73 on a counter-operatin ,arm 4 fixed to the operatT ing shaft 7 5 of t e counter, and thereby de- `presses the arm 74 to operate the counter. When the plunger is restored to initial position b its spring, the arm 74 will also be restore by a spring, as is usual -in counters of the type mentioned.v

It may become necessary or desirable at times to disconnect the counter from the time stamp when the latter is to be used for purposes of which no account is kept. For this pur ose the mounting of the counter upon the racket .21 is made to comprise a bracket' 8O fixed to arm 70, preferably by a screw 81, bracket 80 having a horizontalportion 82 rovided with a dove-tail -mortise 83 into hich tits a tenon 84 on the lower surface of the counter frame, said tenon being slidable laterally in said mortise to move the counter into or out of operative'relationship to said flange 72 on the plunger. l For moving the from the usual lighting circuit, passesl 'cuit is closed to win that, when handle 89 is operated to the right,

arm 86 will draw the counter to the right,

thus moving roller73 out of the path of flange 72, and, when the handle 89 is moved to te left, the counter is-restored to effective position. To hold the counter in effective or ineffective position, there may bev provided a spring detent 90 in bracket 80, 'engaging in either of two co-operating grooves in -the base of the counter.

Variations-may be resorted to within lthe scope of the invention, and portions of the improvements may be used without others.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. The combination with a time-stamp havinga plunger for pressing a work-sheet against the printing surface on said stamp, of a belt connected to said plunger, and an electric motor havin an armature to which said belt is attached, so that operation of the armature winds said belt upon said armature to actuate said plunger.

2. The combination with a time-stamp having a plunger for pressing a work-sheet against the printing surface on said stamp, of a belt connected to said plunger, an electric motor having an armature to which said belt is attached, so that operation of the armature winds said belt upon said armature to actuate said plunger, and manuallyoperatedmeans for controlling the operation of said motor.

3. The combination with a time-stamp having a plunger for pressing a work-sheet against the printing surface on said stamp, of a belt connected to said plunger, an electric motor in an electric circuit, said motor having an armature to which said belt is attached, said motor operating when the circuit, is closed to wind said belt upon said armature to actuate said plunger, a circuitclosing device within the circuit, and manually-operated means for operating saiddevice toclose the circuit.

4. The combination with a time-stamp having a plunger 'for pressing a work-sheet against the printing surface on said stamp, of a belt connected to said plunger, an electric motor in an electric circuit, said motor having anarmature to which said belt is attached, said motor o eratin when'the cir'- said elt upon vsaid armature to 'actuate said plunger, a circuit-closing device within the circuit, manually-operated means for operating said device to close the circuit, and means for normall maintaining the circuit open and for brea in the circuit when said manuallyoperate means isv released.

5. The combination with a` time-stamp having a plunger for pressing a Work-sheet against the printing surface on said stamp, of al belt connected to said plunger, an electric motor 'in an electric circuit, said `motor having an armature to which said belt is attached, said motor operating When the circuit is closed to Wind said belt upon said armature to actuate said plunger, a circuitclosing device Within the circuit, manuallyoperated means for operating said device to close the circuit, and means for normally vmaintaining the circuit open and for breakshaft, manual means for controlling the operation of thei power mechanism, and means connectmg the power mechanism and the movable member, arranged to prevent actuation of the device more thanonce fork each actuation of the manual controlling means.

CORNELIUS B. CORCORAN. 

